Systems and methods for controlling heat distribution for cooking

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, and devices include a griddle device with a heat management system and a digital control system. The griddle device includes a body defining an internal space and the heat management system is disposed within the internal space and below a griddle top. The heat management system includes one or more partitions and an underbracing panel to divide the internal space into a plurality of heat compartments, each with a primary burner, a secondary burner (e.g., a pilot burner), and/or a temperature sensor. The digital control system receives temperature data from the temperature sensors, compares the temperature data to a temperature threshold value, and actuates one or more gas valves to increase or decrease fuel supplied to the burners (e.g., the primary burner). Griddle leveling feet secure the griddle top to the body and are used to adjust the griddle top between a level position and a slanted position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of international application number PCT/US2021/036421, filed Jun. 8, 2021, which claims priority to U.S. provisional application 63/036,424, filed Jun. 8, 2020, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Gas griddles create a variety of engineering challenges to manage the high heat cycles the grills endure while controlling the heat of the cooking surface. Heat often escapes from the portion of the griddle used for cooking and causes external components to overheat and become unsafe to touch. Over time, the escaped heat can also cause the supporting structures and additional components of the cooking device to warp. Some griddles sit on a rollable base that is already difficult to secure into a level position when on unlevel terrain (e.g., outdoors). Additional warping of the griddle components can exacerbate this difficulty in establishing a level cooking plane. Furthermore, gas griddles often fail to evenly heat the cooking surface creating unintentional hot spots and cold spots. Managing the cooking heat to precise temperatures can be difficult due to a lack of granularity in the heating control system. Structural asymmetries created by the warping of the griddle components can make precise control of the heat distribution even more difficult.

It is with these observations in mind, among others, that the presently disclosed technology was conceived.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The presently disclosed technology addresses the foregoing problems by providing systems, devices, and methods for controlling a heat distribution for a cooking device. The cooking device can include a body having one or more side walls and an interior space (e.g., formed of bent and/or folded sheet metal and/or metal tubing); a griddle top disposed over the interior space; and a heat management system, in the interior space, defined by at least one or more partitions and an underbracing panel. The cooking device can also include one or more burners disposed in the heat management system to provide a heat distribution to the griddle top; one or more temperature sensors; and/or a digital control system including a microcontroller and a memory storage device storing computer-readable instructions. Executing the computer-readable instructions, by the microcontroller, can cause the cooking device to receive an input temperature setting value; receive temperature data from the one or more temperature sensors corresponding to the heat distribution of the griddle top; and/or adjust an amount of fuel provided to the one or more burners to change the heat distribution based on the input temperature setting value and the temperature data.

In some examples, the one or more partitions can be metal sheets or panels that define a plurality of heat compartments of the heat management system; and the one or more burners can be evenly distributed among the plurality of heat compartments (e.g., with a one-to-one, two-to-one, or three-to-one ratio of burners-to-heat compartments.) The griddle top can include one or more dividers extending from a bottom surface of the griddle top to define the plurality of heat compartments. Moreover, the one or more burners can include a plurality of primary burners and a plurality of secondary burners. An individual heat compartment of the plurality of heat compartments can includes one primary burner of the plurality of primary burners; and/or one secondary burner of the plurality of secondary burners. Furthermore, the one or more temperature sensors can include a plurality of temperature sensors; and/or the individual heat compartment can include one temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors.

In some instances, adjusting the amount of fuel provided to the one or more burners increases an amount of fuel provided to the one primary burner while providing a constant, non-zero amount of fuel to the one secondary burner. The plurality of primary burners can ignite in response to adjusting the amount of fuel while the plurality of secondary burners can maintain a plurality of pilot lights (e.g., with one pilot light per heat compartment). The one or more temperature sensors can include a plurality of thermocouples contacting a bottom side of the griddle top, which can be spring-loaded thermocouples. The cooking device can further include one or more displays for presenting the input temperature setting value or the temperature data corresponding to the heat distribution. The one or more displays can be disposed on one or more gas knobs used for providing the input temperature setting value, and/or the one or more displays can intermittently present both the input temperature setting value and the temperature data corresponding to the heat distribution.

In some examples, a cooking device includes a heat management system disposed in an interior space of a metal body, the heat management system defined by at least one or more partitions and an underbracing panel; one or more burners disposed in the heat management system to provide a heat distribution to a griddle top disposed over the heat management system; one or more temperature sensors; and/or a digital control system including a microcontroller and a memory storage device storing computer-readable instructions that perform one or more operations. For instance, when executed by the microcontroller, the computer-readable instructions can cause the cooking device to receive an input temperature setting value; receive temperature data from the one or more temperature sensors corresponding to the heat distribution of the griddle top; and/or adjust an amount of fuel provided to the one or more burners to change the heat distribution based on the input temperature setting value and the temperature data.

In some instances, the one or more partitions of the heat management system divide the interior space of the metal body into a plurality of rectangular heat compartments below the griddle top. The underbracing panel can define a bottom of the plurality of rectangular heat compartments and provides lateral structural support for the metal body. The cooking device can further include one or more digital dials for providing the input temperature setting value communicatively coupled to the microcontroller; and/or a heat shield panel disposed between the one or more digital dials and the one or more burners. By way of example, the cooking device can include a plurality of griddle leveling feet extending from a bottom surface of the griddle top for adjusting the griddle top between a level position and a slanted position relative to the metal body. Moreover, the plurality of griddle leveling feet can include a plurality of side protrusions operable to mate with a plurality of openings in the metal body for securing the griddle top to the metal body such that the griddle top provides lateral support for the metal body. In some scenarios, the cooking device includes a first side shelf extending from a first side of the metal body and a second side shelf extending from a second side of the metal body, the first side shelf and the second side shelf being foldable between a level position and a folded position, and the first side shelf and the second side shelf including a plurality heat distribution perforations.

In some examples, a method for controlling heat distribution for a cooking device includes defining a heat management system of the cooking device with one or more partitions and an underbracing panel, the heat management system being disposed below a griddle top of the cooking device; providing the heat distribution to the griddle top using one or more burners disposed in the heat management system; receiving an input temperature setting value at the cooking device; receiving temperature data from one or more temperature sensors measuring the heat distribution at a bottom surface of the griddle top; and/or adjusting an amount of fuel provided to the one or more burners to change the heat distribution based on the input temperature setting value and the temperature data. The method can further include adjusting the griddle top between a level position and a slanted position using one or more griddle leveling feet that mate with a body of the cooking device. Moreover, the one or more partitions can define a plurality of heat compartments of the heat management system; and/or adjusting the amount of fuel provided to the one or more burners to change the heat distribution can include increasing a first amount of fuel provided to a first primary burner in a first heat compartment of the plurality of heat compartments; and/or maintaining a second amount of fuel provided to a second primary burner in a second heat compartment of the plurality of heat compartments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system including a cooking device with a heat distribution system and a digital control system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example system including a heat distribution system having primary burners and secondary burners in communication with a digital control system, which can form at least a portion of the system depicted in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear lower perspective view of an example system including a griddle top having griddle leveling feet for covering an internal space to form a heat distribution system, which can form at least a portion of the system depicted in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 illustrates an example system including a cooking device with a first side shelf and a second side having one or more accessories, which can form at least a portion of the system depicted in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 illustrates an example method for controlling heat distribution for a cooking device, which can be performed by at least the system depicted in FIG. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems disclosed herein improve upon previous techniques for controlling the heat distribution for a cooking device, such as a griddle device, using a heat management system and a digital control system. The griddle device can have a metal body defining an internal space and the heat management system can be disposed within the internal space below a griddle top (e.g., cooking surface). The heat management system can include one or more partitions and an underbracing panel to divide the internal space into a plurality of heat compartments. The heat compartments can include a primary burner, a secondary burner (e.g., a pilot burner), and/or a temperature sensor. In operation, the digital control system can include a microcontroller that receives temperature data from the temperature sensors, compares the temperature data to a temperature threshold value (e.g., based on a temperature setting input value received at the cooking device), and actuates one or more gas valves to increase or decrease fuel supplied to the burners (e.g., the primary burners), automatically maintaining a consistent and even heat distribution. Additionally, griddle leveling feet can extend from an underside of the griddle top to secure the griddle top to the body, and also to adjust the griddle top between a level position and a slanted position.

The griddle device with the various features disclosed herein significantly improves the heat control and distribution from the burners to the griddle top. The heat management system creates a consistent heat distribution throughout the underside of the griddle top which reduces or eliminate hot spots and cold spots that negatively impact cooking. The heat management system also includes various structural components that add rigidity and stability to the cooking device which prevents bending and warping over time. This results in smoother actuation of the various movable components (e.g., foldable, hinged, or slidable components) throughout the lifetime of the griddle device, while also providing for higher manufacturing tolerances. Additionally, the heat management system can prevent heat spill-over from the cooking area of the griddle device into external components (e.g., shelves). Moreover, by using the digital control system in addition to the heat distribution system, the heat distribution can be monitored and controlled at a higher level of granularity and accuracy and with greater response times for temperature adjustments. Additional advantages will become apparent from the disclosure herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 including a griddle device 102 to provide dynamic temperature control and even heat distribution using a digital control system 104 and a heat management system 106. The digital control system 104 can include a plurality of temperature sensors 108 (e.g., surface temperature sensors) in contact with a griddle top 110 and communicatively coupled to a microcontroller 112. The temperature sensor(s) 108 can be spring-loaded sensors that touch a bottom surface of the griddle top 110 to provide temperature data readings to the microcontroller 112 which, in turn, calculates a griddle temperature value. The griddle temperature value can be compared to one or more stored temperature parameter values, and based on this comparison, the microcontroller 112 can actuate one or more gas valve(s) 114 providing gas to one or more burner(s) 118 (e.g., primary burners) to activate and/or adjust their flame height and the corresponding heat distribution of the griddle top 110. The internal structure housing the temperature sensors 108 and the burner(s) 118 (e.g., the primary burners and/or pilot burners) can be the heat management system 106, including one or more partitions 116 and/or heat distribution features. The heat management system 106 can include panels or sheets of metal that divide or separate the internal volume containing the temperature sensors 108 and underside burner(s) 118, while also insulating the internal space from the cooler exterior and external components (e.g., with insulating shieldings), and providing structural support for the griddle device 102. The heat management system 106, combined with the dynamic activations of the digital control system 104, can reduce hotspots, improve the granularity of the temperature data readings, and distribute heat in a more even and effective manner.

In some examples, the griddle device 102 has a body 120 with a front surface 122, a back surface, a first side shelf 124 extending from a first side 126, and/or a second side shelf 128 extending from a second side 130. These components can form an exterior portion or housing of the griddle device 102, which can define an internal space containing at least part of the heat management system 106. For instance, the heat management system 106 can include an underbracing 132 forming a bottom surface and/or one or more partition(s) 118 extending between the front surface 122 and the back surface (e.g., along a center line) and/or between the first side 126 and the second side 130. Moreover, a front shielding 136 can extend along (e.g., parallel to) the front surface 122, and one or more side or rear shieldings 138 can extend along the first side 126, the second side 130, and/or the back surface—further enclosing the interior space of the heat management system 106 (e.g., and operating as wire shieldings). In some instances, the shieldings are formed of or include a layer of an at least partially insulating material, such as a fiberglass panel or a fiberglass cloth. The enclosed interior space can be divided into one or more heat compartments 134 or zones by the partitions 116 and/or shieldings. The one or more partitions 116 divide the interior space of the body 120 into a plurality of rectangular heat compartments 134 below the griddle top 110, and the underbracing 132 can define a bottom of the plurality of rectangular heat compartments 134. The temperature sensors 108, burners 118, and/or gas valves 114 can be distributed between the different heat compartments 134, as discussed in greater detail below.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example system 200 including the digital control system 104 for regulating the heat distribution and griddle top surface temperature of the griddle device 102. The griddle device 102 can include the microcontroller 112 that retrieves, stores, and/or analyzes various data types from one or more database(s) 202. The system 200 can form at least a part of the system 100 depicted in FIG. 1 .

In some examples, the digital control system 104 includes a power supply 204 to provide power to the microcontroller 112, the temperature sensors 108, and/or any other electrical components of the griddle device 102. The power supply 204 can be one or more batteries (e.g., two D batteries) and can include a battery receptacle with a hinged door (e.g., disposed on one of the legs of the griddle device 102). Additionally or alternatively, the power supply 204 can include a lithium battery, a rechargeable battery, a thermoelectric power generator, an A/C power adapter, a solar power system, combinations thereof, and the like.

Furthermore, the digital control system 104 can control the heat distribution to the griddle top 110 based on various data types received at the microcontroller 112 and/or stored at the database(s) 202. For instance, the griddle device 102 can receive temperature data 206 from the temperature sensor(s) 108. The temperature sensor(s) 108 can be one or more thermocouples coupled (e.g., welded) to a bottom surface (e.g., an underside) of the griddle top 110. Additionally or alternatively, the temperature sensors 108 can include one or more spring-loaded sensors that use the pressure generated by the springs to maintain contact with the bottom side of the griddle top 110 (e.g., as the griddle top 110 moves between a slanted position and a level position. The temperature sensors 108 can provide the temperature data 206 to the microcontroller 112 as a continuous data stream, periodically according to an upload schedule (e.g., once every second, two seconds, three seconds, five seconds, ten seconds, etc.), and/or in response to a user input 208, such as a temperature setting input. In some scenarios, the microcontroller 112 executes a data normalizing protocol to convert raw data or voltage values received from the temperature sensors 108 into temperature values corresponding to the heat distribution on the griddle top 110.

Additionally, the digital control system 104 can receive one or more input temperature setting values at the griddle device 102 indicating a desired temperature for the griddle top 110. The input temperature setting values can be received at a knob or dial (e.g., a digital dial) which can be disposed at a front panel of the griddle device 102. The digital control system 104 can convert the input temperature setting values into one or more threshold values 210, and can compare the temperature data 206 representing the current heat distribution on the griddle top 110 with the one or more threshold values 210. If the digital control system 104 determines the griddle temperature represented by the temperature data 206 is below the one or more threshold values 210, the microcontroller 112 can actuate or open one or more control features (e.g., the gas valves 114) to increase an amount of fuel provided to burner(s) 118. Likewise, the microcontroller 112 can actuate or close the gas valve(s) 114 in response to the griddle top temperature represented by the temperature data 206 being above the one or more threshold values 210. Once the temperature data 206 indicates that the griddle top temperature is within a range of the one or more threshold values 210 (e.g., and/or above or below a threshold value), the microcontroller 112 can shut off or at least partially close a primary valve associated with a primary burner of the one or more burners 118.

The digital control system 104 can open and close the gas valves 114 to regulate particularized gas flows to the different burners 118 in the different heat compartment 134 of the heat management system 106. For instance, the digital control system 104 can store data indicating a burner/valve/sensor configuration 212 to determine which temperature sensors 108 (e.g., and corresponding temperature data 206) are associated with which burners 118 and/or which heat compartment 134. In some examples, the microcontroller 112 can receive temperature data 206 from a temperature sensor 108 in a first heat compartment 214 to detect a portion of the heat distribution generated by a first primary burner 216 and/or a first secondary burner 218 also contained in the first heat compartment 214. The first heat compartment 214 can omit any other temperature sensors or burners, such that these components have a one-to-one correspondence with the first heat compartment 214. Additionally or alternatively the first heat compartment 214 can include a plurality of any of these components (e.g., multiple temperature sensors for higher granularity temperature readings, multiple burners for a high-heat area of the griddle top 110, or the like). Either way, the first heat compartment 214 can contain the components to particularize the heat distribution and the data collection for the first heat compartment 214 to a region of the bottom surface of the griddle top 110. By further subdividing the heat management system 106 with additional partitions 116 into arrays or lines of additional heat compartments similar or identical to the first heat compartment 214 (e.g., a line of three, four, five, six, etc., and/or a two-by-two array, a two-by-three array, a two-by-four array, a three-by-three array, etc.), the granularity of the heat distribution control and the data quality being collected can be increased. For instance, a second heat compartment can include a second primary burner 220 and a second secondary burner 222 and/or a second temperature sensor; a third heat compartment can include a third primary burner 224, a third secondary burner 226, and/or a third temperature sensor; and so on for any number of heat compartments 134 formed by the partitions 116. The partitions 116 forming the heat compartments 134 can extend across a middle of the internal space from the first side 126 to the second side 130 and/or from the front to the rear. Moreover portion of the partitions 116 may be formed by extensions down from the bottom surface of the griddle top 110, as discussed below regarding FIG. 3 .

The plurality of secondary burners can provide one or more pilot flame(s) (e.g., with a one-to-once correspondence to the heat compartments 134) and/or a smaller flame than the plurality of primary burners. In some instances, the plurality of primary burners and the plurality of secondary burners both include a gas distribution tube having a same size (e.g., include a same diameter, circumference, width, length, etc.), but can include a different gas dispersing feature. For instance, the primary burners may have a higher number of gas dispersing orifices and/or larger gas dispersing orifices than the secondary burners. Both the primary burners and the secondary burners can be a gas distribution tube extending from the front surface 122 to the back of the griddle device 102. One or more heat tents can be disposed over the plurality of secondary burners, for instance, to focus or disperse a portion of the heat distribution caused by the secondary burners (e.g., to create a low temperature zone on the griddle top 110 between 200° and 250°). In some examples, the griddle device 102 can detect if the secondary burner goes out for a predetermined amount of time (e.g., 5 seconds or longer) using a flame sensor, such as the temperature sensor(s) 108, a light sensor, and/or other sensors. Upon detecting that the secondary burner flame has gone out and the predetermined time has elapsed, the microcontroller 112 can actuate the gas valves 114 to stop providing fuel to the secondary burner, turning the secondary burner off. In response, the microcontroller 112 can generate an error message and/or receive a reset input (e.g., as the user input 208) to restart the secondary burner and cause fuel to flow and ignite from the secondary burner. Turning the gas valve 114 for the pilot flame off in response to detecting an absence of flame from the pilot burner improves safety for the griddle device 102 by preventing unintended combustions or explosions from a build-up of fuel expelled by an unlit secondary burner.

In some instances, the secondary burners can include various combinations of analog burners and/or pilot lights with a gas valve 114 between the analog burner and the fuel source. The analog burner(s) can be uncontrolled by the microcontroller 112. For instance, the analog burners can be used for an analog mode or a hybrid analog/digital mode with a first temperature set by the analog burners and a second temperature being achieved by adding the heat distribution from the digital burners using the techniques discussed herein. The griddle device 102 can be toggleable between the analog mode and a digital mode in response to the user input 208 received at the microcontroller 112.

In some instances, the digital control system 104 can store the burner/valve/sensor configuration 212 to maintain the different associations between the arrangement of heat compartments 134 and the corresponding gas burners 118 and temperature sensors contained within the heat compartments 134. The microcontroller 112 can, in some instances, use the open a primary valve on a primary line to adjust the fuel for the plurality of primary burners; and/or a secondary valve on a secondary line to adjust the fuel for the plurality of secondary burners. Additionally or alternatively, the microcontroller 112 can adjust one or more compartment line gas valves that provide fuel to an individual burner of a particular heat compartments 134, repeatable for any sub-group of burners. For instance, the microcontroller 112 can open any of the gas valves for any heat compartments 134 corresponding to temperature data 206 indicating a griddle top temperature outside the range of threshold values 210 to keep the heat distribution on the griddle top 110 at that region consistent with other regions. The microcontroller 112 can do this automatically and continuously while the griddle device 102 is in use so that the different burner(s) 118 are constantly turning on and off at different regions of the griddle top 110 to maintain the consistent surface temperature. The different burners 118 and temperature sensors 108 separated into the different heat compartments 134 can form a row, an array, a ring, an irregular shape, or any other arrangement of heat compartments 134 within the body 120 of the griddle device 102. As such, the heat management system 106 can be used for a variety of different griddle devices 102 having different body shapes and sizes, and can provide a consistent heating temperature across the griddle top 110 while insulating the heat distribution from other components of the griddle device 102. The heat compartments 134 can provide more refined control over each of the heating compartments 134 or zones reducing heat spill-over from one zone to another. Each zone can be independently and/or automatically controlled to maintain the constant or changing temperature at the griddle top 110. The heat compartments 134 can heat an entire cooking area of the griddle top 110 with even heating, or portions of the griddle top 110 at various different heats using the heat management system 106. Moreover, the same components used for the heat management system 106 (e.g., the partitions 116, the underbracing 132, the insulating panels, etc.) can also add rigidity to the griddle device 102 to provide additional structural (e.g., lateral) support while preventing external components (e.g., the shelves) from getting too hot, thus improving safety and reducing warping.

Furthermore, in some instances, the heat management system 106 can include one or more insulating panels, insulating sheets, or insulating clothes. These insulating materials can separate the heat management system 106 from other components of the griddle device 102, such as the body 120, the heat sensitive portions of the digital control system 104, wiring, the first side shelf 124, the second side shelf 128, control dials, and the like. For instance, an insulating sheet of fiberglass cloth can be layered around an outer shell of the heat management system 106 and/or between a front panel including the control dials as well as the side walls of the body 120 of the griddle device 102. An insulating panel can be disposed over the bottom of underbracing 132, moreover, insulating panels and/or fabric can be disposed between any of the heat compartments 134 (e.g., and/or along the partitions 116). In this way, the heat distribution can be further regulated and controlled with high granularity and accuracy so ho tspots can be reduced or created as desired, and the structural integrity of the griddle device 102 can be maintained.

In some examples, the digital control system 104 can include one or more display(s) 228. The display(s) 228 can be any type of light (e.g., light-emitting diodes (LED)) or display screens (e.g., touchscreen, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), etc.). The display(s) 228 can be inset into a front panel of the griddle device 102 and/or formed into one or more rotating dials (e.g., digital dials or knobs connected to the microcontroller 112). For instance, the displays 228 can be formed into a middle or center portion of the knob, a top portion of the knob, and/or an outer portion of the knob. The display(s) 228 can show a current temperature of the top surface of the griddle top 110 based on the temperature data 206. Once the dial is rotated, the display(s) 228 can change to show the temperature setting input value, and can continue showing the temperature setting input value for 10 to 15 seconds until changing back to show the current measured temperature. The display(s) 228 can intermittently blink back-and-forth to show the desired set temperature value with the actual measured temperature. Furthermore, turning the dial a first direction (e.g., to the left) can turn the gas valve(s) 114 on and turning the dial a second direction (e.g., to the right) can turn the gas valve(s) 114 off using a graduated temperature scale that peaks at “sear” before turning off.

In some examples, the digital control system 104 forms at least a part of a computing system, including one or more hardware processors, one or more memory devices, and/or one or more ports, such as input/output (IO) port(s) and communication port(s).

The one or more hardware processor may include, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, the microcontroller 112, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or one or more internal levels of cache. The one or more hardware processor my comprises a single central-processing unit, or a plurality of processing units capable of executing instructions and performing operations in parallel with each other, commonly referred to as a parallel processing environment. Some embodiments of the presently described technology are optionally implemented in software stored on the data storage or memory device(s) and/or communicated via one or more of the ports to another computing device (e.g., a mobile device), thereby transforming the computing device of the digital control system 104 into a special purpose machine for implementing the operations described herein.

In some examples, the one or more memory device(s) may include any non-volatile data storage device capable of storing data generated or employed within the computing device, such as computer executable instructions for performing a computer process, which may include instructions of both application programs and an operating system (OS) that manages the various components of the computing device. The memory device(s) can store any of the database(s) 202 discussed above regarding FIG. 2 . The memory device(s) can include, without limitation, magnetic disk drives, optical disk drives, solid state drives (SSDs), flash drives, and the like. The memory device(s) may include removable data storage media, non-removable data storage media, and/or external storage devices made available via a wired or wireless network architecture with such computer program products, including one or more database management products, web server products, application server products, and/or other additional software components. Examples of removable data storage media include Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), Digital Versatile Disc Read-Only Memory (DVD-ROM), magneto-optical disks, flash drives, and the like. Examples of non-removable data storage media include internal magnetic hard disks, SSDs, and the like. The one or more memory device(s) may include volatile memory (e.g., dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), static random-access memory (SRAM), etc.) and/or non-volatile memory (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, etc.).

Computer program products containing mechanisms to effectuate the systems and methods in accordance with the presently described technology may reside in the memory device(s) which may also be referred to as machine-readable media. It will be appreciated that machine-readable media may include any tangible non-transitory medium that is capable of storing or encoding instructions to perform any one or more of the operations of the present disclosure for execution by a machine or that is capable of storing or encoding data structures and/or modules utilized by or associated with such instructions. Machine-readable media may include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more executable instructions or data structures.

In some implementations, the computing device includes one or more ports, such as the I/O port and the communication port, for receiving inputs, and/or communicating with other computing devices or networks. It will be appreciated that the I/O port and the communication port may be combined or separate and that more or fewer ports may be included in the computing device. The I/O port may be connected to an I/O device, or other device, by which information is input to or output from the computing device. Such I/O devices may include, without limitation, one or more input devices, output devices, and/or environment transducer devices (e.g., a touchscreen, a button, the digital dial, etc.). The network(s) can include any type of network, such as the Internet, an intranet, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network, a wireless LAN (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi), a wired network (e.g., ethernet, fiber, etc.) a cellular network (e.g., 4G, 5G, LTE, etc.), a satellite network, combinations thereof, etc. The griddle device 102 can include these various computing system components as part of the digital control system 104 and/or additionally in conjunction with the digital control system 104.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example system 300 including the griddle device 102 with the heat management system 106. The system 300 depicts a rear lower perspective view of the griddle device 102 with a rear panel not shown to depict the interior space of the heat management system 106. The system 300 can form at least a portion of the system 100 depicted in FIG. 1 .

In some examples, the griddle device 102 can include griddle leveling feet 302 that extend down from a bottom surface 304 of the griddle top 110 for adjusting and securing the griddle top 110 at different positions. For instance, the griddle leveling feet 302 can include a bottom portion 306 with side protrusions 308 that drops into keyed slots on the griddle device 102, and twists 90° to lock in place. A leveler nut 310 can be disposed around a threaded stem of the griddle leveling foot 302 for adjusting the height of the griddle top 110 at that griddle leveling foot 302. The leveler nut 310 can have a flat side operable to mate with a wrench for turning the leveler nut 310 and causing the portion of the griddle top 110 to be pushed up or down. The griddle leveling feet 302 can be located at the four corners of the griddle top 110, and can be used to adjust the griddle top 110 between various positions, such as a level position with the four griddle leveling feet 302 at substantially same height. The griddle top 110 can also be adjusted to a side slanted position with two griddle leveling feet 302 at the first side 126 raised higher or lower than two griddle leveling feet 302 at the second side 130; and/or a front or rear slanted position with the two griddle leveling feet at the front of the griddle top 110 raised above or below those at the rear of the griddle top 110. The griddle device 102 can be set into a slanted position prior to or during cooking to cause grease to slide away from the griddle top 110 and/or prevent grease pooling in a particular area of the griddle top 110, which can affect the cooking. Furthermore, the bottom surface 304 of the griddle top 110 can be a flat or planar surface and/or can enclose a top portion or form a top wall of the heat management system 106. The bottom surface 304 can also have one or more partition extensions 312 which can align with and/or mate with the partitions 116 to further define the heat compartments 134. The one or more partition extensions 312 can correspond with the partitions 116 and/or can provide additional, supplemental divisions of the internal space (e.g., using a center one or more partition extensions 312 extending across the bottom surface 304 from the first side 126 to the second side 130 and/or aligning with a vertical center support beam 314 of the heat management system 106).

FIG. 4 illustrates an example system 400 including the griddle device 102 with the first shelf 124, the second shelf 128, and/or one or more locking wheels 402. The system 400 can form at least a portion of the system 100 depicted in FIG. 1 .

In some instances, the griddle device 102 can include the locking wheels 402 for easily transporting the griddle device 102 while also securing the griddle device 102 in place prior to cooking. The locking feet can include a double down lock that can be pushed down on one side for locking the locking wheel, while pushing down on the other side releases the locking wheel. The griddle device 102 can include two locking wheels 402 at the first side 126 and two unlockable or free-rolling wheels (e.g., and/or posts or another set of two locking wheels 402) at the second side 130. The locking wheels 402 improve safety of the griddle device 102 by further improving the stability of the griddle device 102 when it is transitioned between a mobile configuration (e.g., wheels unlocked, shelves folded, griddle top 110 level, microcontroller 112 powered off, etc.) and the stationary or cooking configuration (wheels locked, shelves upright, griddle top 110 level or slanted, microcontroller provided power, etc.).

In some examples, the griddle device 102 includes a movable lid 404 to cover the griddle top 110. The movable lid 404 can be a hinged lid with two points of contact with the body 120. The hinged lid can be an accordion-like hinge that uses pivot points in the moving arms, or “strip hinges,” as fulcrums to relieve some of the weight of the lid. The moving arms of the accordion-like arrangement can further reduce side-to-side motion of the movable lid 404 so the movable lid 404 can easily be opened and closed without getting stuck. Furthermore, the griddle device 102 can include a movable pin stop to abut an edge of the movable lid 404 such that the movable lid 404 rests on the pin stop and is held open by the pin stop.

The griddle device 102 can also include external components such as the first side shelf 124 extending from the first side 126 and/or the second side shelf 128 extending from the second side 130. The first side shelf 124 and/or second side shelf 128 can be foldable between a folded position and a level position (e.g., via a hinge 406 traversing across the shelf coupled to a release lever), and can be manufactured with a high tolerance threshold such that the shelves 124 and/or 128 do not bend, drag, or get caught on other parts of the griddle device 102. In this way, the shelves 124 and/or 128 can work smoothly even after multiple uses and multiple heat cycles of the griddle device 102. Furthermore, the first shelf 124 and/or the second shelf 128 can include one or more notches and holes to disperse any heat distribution spilling over from the griddle top 110, and preventing it from conducting into the shelves 124 and/or 128. For instance, the shelves 124 and/or 128 can have heat distribution perforations 408 in multiple rows at a side adjoining the body 120, and/or around an outer edge of the shelves. Moreover, the griddle device 102 can include a predefined gap between the body 120 to which the shelves 124 and/or 128 are attached and the griddle top 110, further preventing the shelves 124 and/or 128 from overheating during cooking.

Furthermore, the griddle device 102 can include one or more accessories 410 and/or accessory holders formed into the shelves 124 and/or 128. The accessories can include a trash bag held in place by a bag wire frame 412 mount extending from an underside of one of the shelves 124 and/or 128. The bag wire frame 412 can be coupled to one or more accessary mounting rails 414 extending along parallel bottom edges 416 of the shelves 124 and/or 128. The bag wire frame mount 412 can comprise a metal wire that attaches to the underside of the shelves 124 and/or 128 at the accessary mounting rails 414 (e.g., or directly to the undersurface of the shelf side walls 416) and includes one or more bends 418 configured to receive and hold the trash bag in place. Furthermore, the accessories can include a paper towel 420 and/or a paper towel holder 422 formed of a metal wire or rod 424 extending away from the side of the body 120 under the shelf 124. The rod 424 can hold the paper towels 420 (e.g., pass through a center hole of the paper towels), and one or more rod clips can secure the paper towels 420 to the power towel holder 422. Furthermore, the rod 424 can be hingedly coupled to the shelf 124 such that the rod 424 can be flipped down 90° (e.g., for a paper towel loading position or using position) and flipped back up to a horizontal position (e.g., for a paper towel using position). The paper towel holder 420 can be spring-loaded (e.g., with a ball pincher) to facilitate transitioning between the different positions. Moreover, the paper towel holder 422 and paper towel 420 can be protected from the heat distribution of the burners 118 and the griddle top 110 by the heat management system 106 and various insulating shield panels and clothes (e.g., insulating side panels inside or outside the body 120 and/or between the shelf 124 and the body 120, as discussed above). As such, the paper towels 420 can pass through an opening 424 in the shelf 124 when in the horizontal position to be accessible for use. The accessories 410 can also include one or more tool hangers 426 extending away from the side shelves 124 and/or 128 attached to ends of the side shelves 124 and/or 128. The tool hanger(s) 426 can be inset into a shelf end indentation 428 to prevent clothing or other items from catching or getting stuck on the tool hanger(s) 426. Additionally or alternatively, the tool hanger(s) 426 can be facing inward towards the body 120 and/or can be inset into the underside of the shelves 124 and/or 128.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for controlling a heat distribution for a cooking device. The method can be performed by at least the system 100 depicted in FIG. 1 .

In some instances, at operation 502, the method 500 defines a heat management system of the cooking device with one or more partitions and an underbracing panel, the heat management system being disposed below a griddle top of the cooking device. At operation 504, the method 500 adjusts the griddle top between a level position and a slanted position using one or more griddle leveling feet that mate with a body of the cooking device. At operation 506, the method 500 provides the heat distribution to the griddle top using one or more burners disposed in the heat management system. At operation 508, the method 500 receives an input temperature setting value at the cooking device (e.g., via the digital dial). At operation 510, the method 500 receives temperature data from one or more temperature sensors measuring the heat distribution at a bottom surface of the griddle top. At operation 512, the method 500 adjusts an amount of fuel provided to the one or more burners to change the heat distribution based on the input temperature setting value and the temperature data.

It is to be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of operations in the method 500 depicted in FIG. 5 and throughout this disclosure are instances of example approaches and can be rearranged while remaining within the disclosed subject matter. For instance, any of the operations depicted in FIG. 5 and throughout this disclosure can be omitted, repeated, performed in parallel, performed in a different order, and/or combined with any other of the operations depicted in FIG. 5 and throughout this disclosure. Moreover, any of the example systems or methods illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 , or the components or operations thereof, can be combined together.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to various implementations, it will be understood that these implementations are illustrative and that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. More generally, implementations in accordance with the present disclosure have been described in the context of particular implementations. Functionality may be separated or combined differently in various implementations of the disclosure or described with different terminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims that follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cooking device comprising: a body having one or more side walls and an interior space; a griddle top disposed over the interior space; a heat management system, in the interior space, defined by at least one or more partitions and an underbracing panel; one or more burners disposed in the heat management system to provide a heat distribution to the griddle top; one or more temperature sensors; and a digital control system including a microcontroller and a memory storage device storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the microcontroller, cause the cooking device to: receive an input temperature setting value; receive temperature data from the one or more temperature sensors corresponding to the heat distribution of the griddle top; and adjust an amount of fuel provided to the one or more burners to change the heat distribution based on the input temperature setting value and the temperature data.
 2. The cooking device of claim 1, wherein: the one or more partitions define a plurality of heat compartments of the heat management system; and the one or more burners are evenly distributed among the plurality of heat compartments.
 3. The cooking device of claim 2, wherein the griddle top includes one or more dividers extending from a bottom surface of the griddle top to define the plurality of heat compartments.
 4. The cooking device of claim 2, wherein: the one or more burners include a plurality of primary burners and a plurality of secondary burners; and an individual heat compartment of the plurality of heat compartments includes: one primary burner of the plurality of primary burners; and one secondary burner of the plurality of secondary burners.
 5. The cooking device of claim 4, wherein: the one or more temperature sensors include a plurality of temperature sensors; and the individual heat compartment includes one temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors.
 6. The cooking device of claim 4, wherein adjusting the amount of fuel provided to the one or more burners increases an amount of fuel provided to the one primary burner while providing a constant, non-zero amount of fuel to the one secondary burner.
 7. The cooking device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of primary burners ignite in response to adjusting the amount of fuel while the plurality of secondary burners maintain a plurality of pilot lights.
 8. The cooking device of claim 1, wherein the one or more temperature sensors include a plurality of thermocouples contacting a bottom side of the griddle top.
 9. The cooking device of claim 1, further comprising one or more displays for presenting the input temperature setting value or the temperature data corresponding to the heat distribution.
 10. The cooking device of claim 9, wherein the one or more displays are disposed on one or more gas knobs used for providing the input temperature setting value, and the one or more displays intermittently present both the input temperature setting value and the temperature data corresponding to the heat distribution.
 11. A cooking device comprising: a heat management system disposed in an interior space of a metal body, the heat management system defined by at least one or more partitions and an underbracing panel; one or more burners disposed in the heat management system to provide a heat distribution to a griddle top disposed over the heat management system; one or more temperature sensors; and a digital control system including a microcontroller and a memory storage device storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the microcontroller, cause the cooking device to: receive an input temperature setting value; receive temperature data from the one or more temperature sensors corresponding to the heat distribution of the griddle top; and adjust an amount of fuel provided to the one or more burners to change the heat distribution based on the input temperature setting value and the temperature data.
 12. The cooking device of claim 11, wherein the one or more partitions of the heat management system divide the interior space of the metal body into a plurality of rectangular heat compartments below the griddle top.
 13. The cooking device of claim 12, wherein the underbracing panel defines a bottom of the plurality of rectangular heat compartments and provides lateral structural support for the metal body.
 14. The cooking device of claim 11, further comprising: one or more digital dials for providing the input temperature setting value communicatively coupled to the microcontroller; and a heat shield panel disposed between the one or more digital dials and the one or more burners.
 15. The cooking device of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of griddle leveling feet extending from a bottom surface of the griddle top for adjusting the griddle top between a level position and a slanted position relative to the metal body.
 16. The cooking device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of griddle leveling feet include a plurality of side protrusions operable to mate with a plurality of openings in the metal body for securing the griddle top to the metal body such that the griddle top provides lateral support for the metal body.
 17. The cooking device of claim 11, further comprising a first side shelf extending from a first side of the metal body and a second side shelf extending from a second side of the metal body, the first side shelf and the second side shelf being foldable between a level position and a folded position, and the first side shelf and the second side shelf including a plurality heat distribution perforations.
 18. A method for controlling heat distribution for a cooking device, the method including: defining a heat management system of the cooking device with one or more partitions and an underbracing panel, the heat management system being disposed below a griddle top of the cooking device; providing the heat distribution to the griddle top using one or more burners disposed in the heat management system; receiving an input temperature setting value at the cooking device; receiving temperature data from one or more temperature sensors measuring the heat distribution at a bottom surface of the griddle top; and adjusting an amount of fuel provided to the one or more burners to change the heat distribution based on the input temperature setting value and the temperature data.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting the griddle top between a level position and a slanted position using one or more griddle leveling feet that mate with a body of the cooking device.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein: the one or more partitions define a plurality of heat compartments of the heat management system; and adjusting the amount of fuel provided to the one or more burners to change the heat distribution includes: increasing a first amount of fuel provided to a first primary burner in a first heat compartment of the plurality of heat compartments; and maintaining a second amount of fuel provided to a second primary burner in a second heat compartment of the plurality of heat compartments. 